Members of the Breton Education Centre Bears, from left, Keigan Madden, Kyle Muise, Ryan Beaton and team manager Charles Groleau clean up the team’s dorm room at Breton Education Centre. The teams are housed at the New Waterford high school during the 32nd annual Coal Bowl Classic. For the first time in the tournament’s history, the BEC team is not in the running for the messiest room.

The Breton Education Centre Bears, who have held the title of messiest team at the New Waterford Coal Bowl Classic for the entire history of the boys basketball tournament, is attempting to end the streak.

“We plan to break that tradition this year,” said Eric Walzak, a point guard with the Bears. “We like switching things up and doing new things. As well, we are hearing there are great prizes this year for the cleanest room.”

Attempts to find out about the prizes were unsuccessful and organizers say although it is a great prize, “It is a secret.”

During the annual Coal Bowl, the 10 teams are housed in a wing of the school which is turned into a dorm.

Ray Morrison of New Waterford has been volunteering as the room judge each year. He was shocked to discover the BEC team was looking to end its long-standing streak.

“I was actually gob-smacked,” he said. “The room has been much tidier than it has ever been through the history of the Coal Bowl.”

Morrison said when the 32nd annual Coal Bowl began Monday and he first went to the Bears’ room, he was prepared for a disaster.

“I was expecting the worst but didn’t get the worst.”

Morrison discovered the team was making an effort to have the cleanest room at the weeklong competition.

“It looks like for the first time they are coming out of the basement in the competition,” he said. The BEC team always owned the bottom spot.”

Morrison said his worst experience in the Bears’ room was the year apples and bananas were crushed on the floor.

“That was intentional in trying to keep the lowest score,” he added.

Late in the week, the Bears were tied for fourth place in the cleanest room competition. Charlottetown Rural High School from Charlottetown, P.E.I., was on the bottom.

“Out of the first two days, out of a possible 40 points, (Charlottetown) had 13. They were leading but in the wrong direction.”

The Polyvalente de L’Ancienne-Lorette Athletiques of L’Ancienne-Lorette, Que., were in the lead with 37 points.

Bears player Keigan Madden said the team was not doing badr.

“Our coach (Jean-Guy Demeter) is encouraging us to keep it clean,” he said. “We are motivated by the prizes as well. We don’t know what they are but we know they are going to be good ones.”

Members of the Breton Education Centre Bears, from left, Keigan Madden, Kyle Muise, Ryan Beaton and team manager Charles Groleau clean up the team’s dorm room at Breton Education Centre. The teams are housed at the New Waterford high school during the 32nd annual Coal Bowl Classic. For the first time in the tournament’s history, the BEC team is not in the running for the messiest room.